The 2020 Morton Games will take place on Friday, July 10 at the Morton Stadium Santry Dublin. With a somewhat more settled calendar for the 2020 season it has meant a return by Morton Games to our traditional July meet, rather then the much later date this year. A warm Friday night in July sitting on the grass banks around the Santry track certainly sounds a much more attractive proposition then was endured in August!

In addition to the returning favourites (the Morton mile, Albie Thomas 5000, 800’s, sprints, javelin and high jump etc.) the earlier date means the return of the famed club juvenile 16 x 100 (mile) mixed relay which for logistical reasons had to be ‘rested’in 2019. It is also planned to hold once again a junior women’s mile race in addition to the junior men’s mile. More details of course as we move forward.

Make a note of the date July 10, 2020 Morton Stadium, Santry from 7 PM. Also we are currently seeking additional sponsors so if you or your company are interested in discussing the opportunities available contact the Meet Director, Noel Guiden 0879599888. Finally the 2020 event web site http://www.mortongames.ie has been launched so check there for updates.

Highlights of last Wednesday’s Morton Games from the Morton Stadium Santry can be seen on TV tomorrow (Wednesday the 28th) Eurosport 1 at 6.00pm and also on Eurosport 2 Thursday, August 29 at 7.00am and again at the prime slot of 9.00 p.m. on Thursday night. The show will also be shown a final time on Eurosport 1 again on September 4th.

To see a full replay of Last Wednesday’s super Morton Games and to view some excellent photos go to www.mortongames.ie. Also highlights coming soon to Eurosports, details when to hand.

Cathal Doyle, Morton Miler by Fintan Stewart.

Well it had to happen sometime. After a streak of perfect weather on Morton Games night for eight years in succession it came to an end last night in Morton Stadium as strong winds and then an absolute deluge soaked athletes officials and spectators. The conditions unfortunately dictated against the planned fast times but athletes are competitors and all put on an outstanding display of bravery, guts and commitment producing superb competition and close racing all night.

Highlights included a second Morton Mile win from Robert Dominic (USA) in a time of 3.58.90, despite the conditions five athletes manage the magical sub- four. (Clonliffe had two worthy competitors in the Morton Mile: Cathal Doyle 10th 4.02.65 and Eoin Pierce 13th 4.05.40) A truly magnificent win in the Albie Thomas 5000 from Aussie Pat Tiernan who took tumble, including a somersault, after 600 but still managed a 13.28.41 win, magnificent in the conditions. Indeed the conditions for the 5000 were the worst of the night. There was also a very classy women’s 1500 producing a superb race won by last year’s runner-up Elinor Perrier in a time of 4.08.59.

In the sprint events and intriguing men’s 100 which brought 19 athletes to the start line whittled post heats to 10 athletes and then at 8.0 5 PM a superb win by Cordero Gray (USA) in a time of 10.44, again an incredible time into a strong headwind. Second-place was Demek Kemp (USA) with Gavin Smellie (CAN) completing the podium. Phil Healy gave the packed home straight stand something to cheer about as she came off the bend in first place and battled all the way to the finish line just being overhauled by Kiara Parker (USA), Parker winning in 23.94, , again very impressive in the conditions from Healy’s 24.02.

The men’s 400 so local favourite Brian Gregan in his comeback race, unfortunately Gregan’s hamstring played up and he only lasted about 150 m. Obi Igbokwe (USA) was a worthy winner recording a time of 45.95, quite extraordinary in all the circumstances.

The women’s 800 brought the prospect of a Ciara Mageean win and the possibility of a fast time, the pacemaker did an excellent job but the strong headwind put paid to any such notions. Coming off the final bend with Mageean well in contention with anyone of 5 to choose from, in the end it was the fast finishing tall figure of Canada’s Lindsey Butterworth who was strongest down the straight winning in a time of 2.01.33, Olivia Baker (USA) was second with another Canadian Jenna Westaway third. Ireland’s Katie Kirk despite the conditions recorded a season’s best of 2.03.46. The men’s 800 saw Mark English run out of it with 200 to go and although it looked like it was going to be Harun Abda’s day the American was overhauled by fellow American and winner in Cork Isiah Harris, 1.48.20.

The field eventers suffered more than most in the conditions despite this there was an excellent high jump competition down at ‘high jump Hill’one by the second Australian winner of the night Eleanor Patterson (1.89) from Ireland’s Sommer Lecky (1.83) and Amina Smith (USA) 1.83. Lars Timmerman-jetten (NED) through 75.94 in the javelin to retain his Morton title with our two Japanese visitors, Ayumo Ishiyama (72.22) and Gen Naganuma (71.09) in second and third positions. Clonliffe men Stephen Rice was 6th (67.68) with Rory Gunning 7th 66.86 a PB.

An interesting mixed 4 x 400 relay, which is essentially a Netherlands versus Ireland match ended from the off as the Dutch team inexplicably started sans baton and although they finished the race were promptly DQ’d! The junior Miles which got action underway produced a win in the 20 x 20 junior women’s mile for Joanna Loftus (Moy Valley) and in the men’s by Aaron Cullen of the host club Clonliffe Harriers

In all despite the difficulties caused by the weather the event was an outstanding success with all races running precisely to timetable with the Morton mile itself on the stroke of 9 PM. Also it must be said with most of the meet under lights it added enormously to the atmosphere. Clonliffe would like to thank all of our sponsors and supporters, the spectators who braved the conditions and in particular the athletes who make Morton Games what is. We look forward to seeing you all in 2020.

Latested news: Brian Gregan is a confirmed starter for next Wednesday’s Loki 400 at Morton Games. The Clonliffe Harrier will run his first race of the season after recovering from a long-term injury. Gregan last competed in the Morton Games in 2017 when he produced one of the races of his career as he beat a world-class field in a new PB of 45.26 and in the process he was responsible for reviving the fabled ‘Santry Roar’!.

Gregan will face another World class field on Wednesday night which includes Canada’s Graeme Thompson who has had a breakthrough season finishing 4th in the Canadian Championships and recording a 45.67 PB. Thompson is coming all the way from Canada with a target of the world qualifying time. Also confirmed is Obi Igbokwe (USA) who has a 44.94 PB and the 45.06 season’s best, the NCAA 400 finalist only in recent weeks competed in the London Diamond league where he placed 4th. 2018 European finalists Samuel Garcia (ESP) , with a 45.00 PB and Ricardo Dos Santos (POR) 45.14 and 2016 European bronze medalist Liemarvin Bonevacia (NED) are also confirmed.

Many thanks to all who have committed to becoming a Friend of Morton Games 2019.  This is very much appreciated by Clonliffe Harriers and by the rest of the team involved in Morton Games.  Your support is vital to the success of this year’s Meet and indeed the future success of future Morton Games.

We are pleased to say that matters are coming together very well and the Meet Director is confident that there is going to be an extremely successful night of action in Morton Stadium on August 21^st.  As you may have seen the Meet was officially launched at Buswells Hotel in Central Dublin yesterday by the Mayor of Fingal Councillor Eoghan O’Brien amongst others.

Mick Kearney who is the co-ordinator of Friends of Morton Games has issued a reminder that there are still opportunities available to become a Friend of Morton Games.  With the Meet now fourteen days away it is proposed that the Friends of Morton Games will remain open for subscription for another seven days.

Donations of €100, or more if you are feeling generous (!) will secure you becoming a Friend of Morton Games.  Your name will appear as a Friend of Morton Games on the event website, in the event day programme and you will also receive tickets for the big night.

Anyone interested in becoming a Friend of Morton Games is requested to contact Mick Kearney as soon as possible on 0876243843 or by email to kearneymick@msn.com

Today Tuesday, August 6, on the 61st anniversary of Herb Elliot’s World Mile record set in Santry, the 2019 Morton Games was officially launched at the historic Buswells Hotel in central Dublin. The event was launched by the Mayor of Fingal Cllr. Eoghan O’Brien, Interim CEO of Fingal Anne-Marie Farrelly and the President of Athletics Ireland Georgina Drumm. Also in attendance were Club Captain Joe Cooper, club committee members John O’Leary, Tommy Griffin, Stephen Bateson and Noel Daly and LOC member Declan Power.

Also in attendance was international athlete and national 1500 champion John Travers. John will run in the world famous Morton Mile. John of course has been one of Ireland’s top middle-distance athletes for a number of years and indeed ran his PB of 3.55.44 in this race in 2014.

The Meet Director, Noel Guiden,  thanked Fingal County Council, Sport Ireland, Athletics Ireland, Morton Stadium and Clonliffe Harriers for their support of Morton Games. He also thanked John Travers for being in attendance and thanked the Irish athletes for their great support of Morton Games confirming that Ireland’s top athletes including Ciara Megeean, Mark English, Sarah Healy, Nadia Power, Marcus Lawler and Sommer Lecky had all given their commitment to taking part in the big night in Santry.

The full programme of events for this year is: women; 200, 800, 1500, high jump. Men; 100, 400, 800, Morton mile, Albie Thomas 5000, javelin. See www.mortongames.ie for all latest news.

It’s now only a little over two weeks to go to this year’s Morton Games. Wednesday August 21st at 6.45pm. The organising committee are very satisfied with the fields being assembled and the word is that this year will see the deepest fields ever assembled for the meet.

For the latest Morton Games news visit  https://www.mortongames.ie/news-1  Please check in there over the coming weeks. Also club members please spread the word among your athletics friends, family and so forth. We’d love a big crowd in Morton Stadium.

Clonliffe Harriers last night launched the 2019 Friends of Morton Games. The Friends of Morton Games was launched by one of the co-ordinators Mick Kearney in the clubhouse. Friends of Morton Games gives the opportunity to not only members of Clonliffe Harriers but to athletics fans generally to become a friend of the international athletics Meet which takes place in the Morton Stadium, Santry on Wednesday August 21^st.

International athletics is very costly to put on and in order to ensure the continued success of the event it is imperative that funding is available to the organisers. To become a Friend of Morton Games involves a donation of €100, in return Friends of Morton Games will be recognised on the event website (www.mortongames.ie) and in the event day programme.  Furthermore Friends of Morton Games will be given tickets to the big night.

Friends of Morton Games 2019 is being co-ordinated by both Mick Kearney and Alan O’Neill and anyone wishing to become a friend can talk to them direct or can get in contact by email to friendsmortongames@hotmail.com.

The club appeals to all for their support of this initiative.

See attached brochure: Friend Morton Games 19

With a little less than 100 days to August 21st check out the new updated 2019 version of www.mortongames.ie 

Please also spread the word. It`ll be here quicker than you think!